Library
Visiting the UoR
Library
Ruth Gooding
© University of Reading 2010
www.reading.ac.uk/library
Session outline
• Introduction
• What can you expect from a visit to University of Reading
Library
• What might pupils need to know e.g. how to use the
catalogue
• Other resources pupils can use
2
1
Finding and evaluating information
2
Resources outside UoR Library
3
Visiting the Library
3
1
Visiting the Library
4
Types of visit
• Widening participation
– Traditional style of visit
– Often in conjunction with academic departments or Student
Outreach and Recruitment
• Using Library resources
– International Baccalaureate and Extended Project Qualification
– Require searching for information and applying critical thinking
5
Visiting the Library
• University vacation periods or after the Summer exam
period – Building work this Summer
• No access during exams
• Pupils must be accompanied by staff and abide by the
Library code of conduct
• Subject specific visits are arranged with the appropriate
subject liaison librarian
– Involvement depends on level of time they feel they can offer
• No borrowing rights or access to electronic resources
6
2
Finding and evaluating information
7
Finding information Library resources
• Over 1 million items in the
Library
• Print books and journals
• Browsing is not always an
efficient strategy to find
books
• Students need to be able to use the Library catalogue
Enterprise
8
Using Enterprise
• Demonstration
• Searching options
• Print or electronic item
• Full record / More information
9
Search results
Call Numbers are usually made up of:
• A prefix eg Periodical, Folio
• A classification number eg 401.9
• An author mark: the first three letters of the author’s
name
• eg 401.9-ALT
Floor plan
401.9
Dewey Decimal resources
• Different libraries may use different classification
schemes
• OCLC guide to understanding Dewey Decimal
Classification
• Help on the Library website
– Floor plans
– Audio tours
17
Evaluating information
• “Information literacy is knowing when and why you need
information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use
and communicate it in an ethical manner”
– http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/advocacy/learning/informationliteracy/Pages/definition.aspx
• Plan searches before using Enterprise
18
Planning search strategies
• Level of information
– Undergraduate textbooks
– Journal titles beginning Progress in... or Advances in...
• Constructing a search
–
–
–
–
Search terms?
Date range?
Author?
Geographical limits?
19
Evaluating material
• Evaluate the content and the source of the material
– Popular magazine?
– Website?
• Things to consider:
–
–
–
–
Author
Bias in the piece
Structure of the information
Spelling and grammar
20
Referencing
• Different styles
• Library website
– Referencing guides
– Harvard and Vancouver styles
• Plagiarism
• Tips!
–
–
–
–
Keep records of materials cited
Write down page numbers (for quotations)
When photocopying mark the sources on the copy
Be consistent!
21
Citing references
3
Resources outside UoR Library
29
Other electronic resources
• University of Southampton's Extended Project Support
guide
• JISC collection for schools
• Google Scholar and Google Books
• Reading public library
• Project Gutenberg
• Directory of Open Access Journals
• PubMed Central
• Centaur – Reading University repository
30
Other electronic resources
• Government websites (.gov.uk)
– E.g. The Department of Education
• Society websites
– E.g. Royal Historical Society
• Academics’ websites / blogs
– E.g. Dr Ben Goldacre Bad Science
• Not for profit organizations (.org.uk)
– charities, trade unions, public arts organisations
– E.g. Oxfam
31
Further suggestions
• Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
– A useful place to put information for students
• Experience sharing with other schools
• Resources sharing with other schools
32
Summary
• Preparing for a visit
– Information on the Library website
– Email me [email protected] to arrange
• Finding information
– Plan searches
– Use the catalogue
– Evaluate the information found
• Other resources
– Online possibilities
– Other libraries
– Virtual Learning Environment
33